Latent infection of low-virulence anaerobic bacteria in degenerated lumbar intervertebral discs
Latent infection of low-virulence anaerobic bacteria in degenerated lumbar intervertebral discs
复制标题
退变腰椎间盘低毒力厌氧菌的潜伏感染
DOI:
10.1186/s12891-018-2373-3
复制
发表时间:
2018-12-20
影响因子:
2.3
通讯作者:
Chen, Yong
中科院分区:
文献类型:
--
作者:
Tang, Guoqing;Wang, Zhuo;Chen, Yong
BackgroundThe existence of latent low-virulence anaerobic bacteria in degenerated intervertebral discs (IVDs) remains controversial. In this study, the prevalence of low-virulence anaerobic bacteria in degenerated IVDs was examined, and the correlation between bacterial infection and clinical symptoms was analysed.MethodsEighty patients with disc herniation who underwent discectomy were included in this study. Under a stringent protocol to ensure sterile conditions, 80 disc samples were intraoperatively retrieved and subjected to microbiological culture. Meanwhile, tissue samples from the surrounding muscle and ligaments were harvested and cultured as contamination markers. The severity of IVD degeneration and the prevalence of Modic changes (MCs) were assessed according to preoperative MRI analysis.ResultsOf the 80 cultured discs, 54 were sterile, and 26 showed the presence of bacteria:Propionibacterium acnes(21 cases) and coagulase-negativestaphylococci(5 cases). MRI revealed that the presence of bacteria was significantly associated with MCs (P<0.001). However, there was no significant association between bacterial infection and the severity of IVD degeneration (P= 0.162).ConclusionsOur findings further validated the presence of low-virulence anaerobic bacteria in degenerated IVDs, andP. acneswas the most frequent bacterium. In addition, the latent infection of bacteria in IVDs was associated with Modic changes. Therefore, low-virulence anaerobic bacteria may play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of MCs and lumbar disc herniation.